Suction cleaner transport accessory



March 10, 1959 G. E. KAUFMAN 1 2,876,479

SUCTION CLEANER TRANSPORT ACCESSORY Fil ed Nov. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 10, 1959 G. E. KAUFMAN 2,876,479 SUCTION CLEANER TRANSPORT ACCESSORY i r N a Q '5 E g q United fltates Patent 2,876,479 SUCTION CLEANER TRANSPORT ACCESSORY George E. Kaufman, Canton,

Hoover Company, of Ohio Ohio, assignor to The North Canton, Ohio, a corporation The present invention relates to an accessory for attachment to a suction cleaner to propel the latter over a supporting surface.

An object of the invention is to provide a wheeled aecessory attachable to a suction cleaner for tilting the latter onto the wheels to transport the cleaner from place to place. Another object is to provide an accessory attachable to a suction cleaner and provided with wheels for transporting the cleaner and having means to store a cleaning tool thereon. A further object is to provide a wheeled accessory adapted to be secured to a suction cleaner and rigidly storing a cleaning tool whereby manipulation of the latter tilts the cleaner for transportation on the wheels. Another object is to provide a cleaning tool having means for storing it on the cleaner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing the accessory attached to the cleaner,

Figure 2 is a rear view of the accessory detached from the cleaner, and

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises a suction cleaner of the canister type having a base supporting a spherical casing 11 enclosing a filter bag 12 and a motor-fan unit 13, an inlet opening 14 at the top of the casing 11 provides for removable connection of an unshown hose attached to a wand 15 detachably secured to a surface cleaning tool 16. A discharge outlet 17 is disposed at the bottom of the casing 11 for escape of filtered air into the base 10. The casing is formed in two sections 18 and 19 hinged together to provide access to the bag 12 and motor-fan unit 13, and the lower casing section 18 terminates in annular exterior flange 20 above which is a laterally projecting furniture guard 21.

The base 10 has a bottom plate 22 to which is attached an annular member 23 having a vertical wall 24, an upwardly outwardly inclined wall 25 terminating in an annular ridge 26, from which extends a downwardly inclined wall 27 provided with a depending flange 28. The inclined wall 25 and vertical wall 24 cooperate with the bottom plate 22 to provide a recess 29 in which nests the lower portion 30 of the casing 11. A hinge 31 pivotally mounts the casing 11 for movement relative to the base 10 to open and close the recess 29, and a suitable unshown latch locks the casing to the base. A plurality of spaced openings 32 are in the vertical wall 24 of the base for escape of filtered air from the outlet 17 into an annular chamber 33 provided with sound deadening material 34.

The accessory comprises a body 40 having a base 41 provided at its opposite ends with a depending flange 42 supporting a wheel shaft 43 on which is rotatably mounted a pair of wheels 44. At the forward portion of the base 41 are two spaced hooks 45 each having a downwardly inclined portion 46 and a vertical portion 47 the latter provided with a projecting circular washer or lock member 48 adapted to be inserted in the cleaner base openings 32. Depending from the base 41 between the washers 48 is an inclined arm 49 to which is attached a resilient pad 50 for engagement with the inclined wall 25 of the cleaner base. Projecting upwardly from the base 41 is a wall 52 joined to side panels 53 each having an arcuate edge 54 conforming substantially to the surface of the casing section 18. The upper portion of the wall 52 terminates in a locking tongue 54 projecting above the side panels 53 and is provided along one surface with a wedge-shaped flexible liner 55. Extending laterally from the wall 52 is a tongue 56 having a hook 57 adapted to engage the casing flange 20. A plate 58 is riveted to the base 41 and is provided with a downwardly extending. resilient book 59 adapted to engage the cleaner base flange 28. Punched out from the vertical wall 52 is an upwardly projecting lug 60 which defines a cord receiving pocket 61 with the" vertical wall 52.

In order to attach the accessory to the cleaner the casing 11 is pivoted to expose the recess 29 in the base 10. The locking buttons 48 are inserted in two of. the openings 32 in the base wall 24 between the hinge 31 and the casing latch, and thereafter the accessory is tilted outwardly to place the base 41 on the annular ridge 26 with the resilient pad 50 bearing against the inclined wall 25, and the resilient hook 59 engages the base flange 28 to lock the accessory to the cleaner base 10 with the wheels 44 supported slightly above the bottom of the base plate 22 and the floor surface 63. Upon pivoting the casing 11 to its closed position the casing flange 20 receives the hook 57 to thereby lock the upper portion of the accessory to the casing.

When the accessory is attached to the cleaner the wheel shaft 43 provides a fulcrum above the connection of the hooks 48 and 59 to the base 10, whereby in applying a rearward force to the tongue 54 the cleaner is tilted about the shaft 43 to lift the base from the floor 63 to a propelling position relative to the floor line indicated at 65.

The suction cleaner cord is stored by winding it into a coil and placing it over the accessory vertical wall 52 with the lower portion 66 of the coil seated in the pocket 61 and the upper portion 67 arranged on the furniture guard 21 between the casing upper section 19 and the arcuate edges 54 of the side panels 53.

The cleaning tool 16, as shown for purposes of illustration, comprises a body 70 having a surface engaging nozzle mouth 71 connected to a conduit 72. An accessory adapter 73 having a tubular portion 74 is telescoped about the conduit 72 and detachably receives the wand 15 to convey dirt laden air from the nozzle mouth through the wand 15 and the hose to the filter 12 in the cleaner casing 11.

Formed on the adapter 73 is a pocket 75 having a downwardly disposed mouth 76. The interior of the pocket is shaped to conform to the exterior surface of the tongue 54 and the wedge plate 55 on the accessory for telescopic engagement therewith. The cleaning tool 16 is stored on the accessory by placing the pocket 75 over the tongue 54 with the nozzle mouth disposed therebelow adjacent the accessory back wall 52 and the wand 15 projects upwardly of the casing 11 with the unshown hose connected to the cleaner inlet 14. The fit between the pocket 75 and tongue 54 is such that upon applying a rearward force to the wand 15 the cleaner will be tilted about the wheel shaft 43 to raise the base 10 from the floor 63 whereby the cleaner can be propelled on the wheels 44 to any desired location.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this embodi ment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1.- In combination, a suction cleaner having a base for supporting the cleaner on a surface, a casing mounted on said base, a hose connected at one end to said casing and provided at its opposite end with a surface cleaning tool, and an accessory comprising a body, wheels mounted on said body for movement of the latter about the axis of said wheels, hook means on said body connectible with cooperating means on said base to attach said accessory to the cleaner with said wheels exterior of said cleaner in non-supporting relation thereto and elevated from the supporting surface whereby the cleaner can be moved on its base along the supporting surface when said accessory is attached to the cleaner, and means on said body for securing said cleaning tool thereto and arranging the latter upwardly along the cleaner for manipulation by the user to tilt the cleaner ofi said supporting base onto said wheels for transporting the cleaner on said wheels.

2. The combination described in claim 1, and means pivotally connecting said casing to said base, and said hook means insertable between. said casing and base when said casing is raised with respect to said base for connection to said cooperating means on said cleaner base. 3. An accessory for a suction cleaner having a base to support the cleaner on a surface, attaching means on said base, and a hose provided with a cleaning tool, said accessory comprising a body, wheels mounted on said '4 body for movement of the latter about the axis of said wheels, hook means on said body engageable with said attaching means on the cleaner at a point below said pivotal axis of said wheels when said cleaner base rests upon the supporting surface with said wheels exterior of said cleaner and in non-supporting relation thereto and elevated from the supporting surface whereby the cleaner can be moved on its base along the supporting surface when said accessory is attached to the cleaner, and means at the upper end of said body for securing said cleaning tool, to said body and arranging said cleaning tool upwardly along the cleaner for manipulation by the user to tilt the cleaner off the supporting surface onto said wheels for transporting the cleaner on said wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,316,239 Hogander Sept. 16, 1919 1,820,728 Calis Aug. 25, 1931 2,232,548 McAnerney Feb."18, 1941 2,634,189 Hill- Apr. 7, 1953 2,740,981 Farmolare Apr. 10, 1956 2,781,103 Daiger Feb. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 88,208 Norway Oct. 22, 1956 233,162 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1944 819,897 Germany Nov. 5, 1951 

